Kushner says US Administration Will Continue with âPeace Planâ Even Without Abbas

US president Donald Trumpâs senior adviser, Jared Kushne,r in an interview with Al-Quds Palestinian newspaper, said that his country will go on with a Middle East peace plan which has not been announced yet, whether Abbas agrees to participate in it or not.

Kushner questioned Abbasâs ability to make a deal, as the Palestinian Authority (PA) is boycotting the US administration for its moves, which included declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

âIf President Abbas is willing to come back to the table, we are ready to engage; if he is not, we will likely air the plan publicly,â Kushner said, according to an English-language transcript released in Washington.

âHowever, I do question how much President Abbas has the ability to, or is willing to, lean into finishing a deal. He has his talking points which have not changed in the last 25 years,â Kushner said.

Commenting on the interview, Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Abbas, said: âThe road to peace is clear â commitment to the two-state solution, a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. This is the road to any negotiations or any meetings.â

Kushner and US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, visited Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt before talks on Friday and Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Arab leaders conveyed they wanted to see a Palestinian state.

Erekat:Â Kushner represents a policy of dictationÂ

In response, senior PLO member, Dr. Saeb Erekat said Kushnerâs interview again illustrates the US refusal to talk substance, to mention Palestinian rights or a Palestinian state.

âThis is an attempt to push forward a plan that consolidates Israelâs colonial control over Palestinian land and lives while telling the Palestinian people that money will compensate for our inalienable rights. Plain and simple: Palestine and Palestinian rights are not for sale,â Erekat said in a statement, according to the PNN.

âKushner represents a policy of dictation rather than negotiationsâ, he added. âIt is the Trump Administration has walked away from the negotiations, from international law and UN resolutions.â

Erekat added that the PA hasÂ continuously heard the same from the Israeli government that believes that there will be a better economic situation by pulverizing the political rights of the people of Palestine. Â Therefore, Kushnerâs interview only confirms what we have heard from every international envoy we have met with, that thereâs nothing of substance coming from the Trump Administration.

He added that it is outrageous to accept such blatant disregard of international law to be replaced with business packages to resolve the struggle of a people striving for their freedom.

âThe aids of the current US Administration, including Jared Kushner, have heard it clear from our fellow Arab leaders that the core of the solution should be grounded on ending Israelâs occupation of Palestine and the establishment of a sovereign and the independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Certainly, the end of Israelâs occupation and the fulfillment of our political rights is a matter of consensus among all Palestinians that are united on the vision and will to live in freedom,â Erekat concluded.